With Horden losing at Northern, Percy Park move back to second in Durham and Northumberland 1, by a clear two points with a game in hand. Sunderland travelled to Preston Avenue, their season so far blighted by injury and players leaving the club for pastures new, but hoping to retain the form that saw them defeat Yorkshire 1 side Skipton for a place in the last 32 of the EDF Energy Senior Vase. Park were able to field a strong side with the welcome return of Sam Walton to the pack after a shoulder injury and work commitments had kept him out of the 1^st XV for the last 3 seasons.